diversitytech: diversity as a source of technological innovation

#diversitytechdiversity as a source of technological innovation

Jessica Faye CarterNew York City

August 12, 2009

Copyright © 2009 Jessica Faye Carter.

Overview

• Diversity and the spread of technology

• The world according to Twitter

• Open Source software

• Social networks

• How our lives are changing

• Q&A/Wrap-Up


Diversity undergirds the spread of technology

• Technological expansion requires dialogue across cultures and communities

‣ Think about ideas/concepts that spread

trends

viruses

religion

‣ to remain viable, ideas/concepts engage in a give-and-take with different cultures

‣ this is how social media technologies have become entrenched in our society (“put down roots”)

The world according to

Twitter Karma


6 types of Twitter diversity

• Diversity-driven Twitter apps:

‣ aesthetic (e.g., Twistori, Twitpic)

‣ connective (e.g., Tweeto’clock, Twitter Karma, Twibes, wefollow)

‣ informative (e.g., Twitter search, Tweepsearch)

‣ metrical/influence (e.g., Twitalyzer, Twitterholic)

‣ utilitarian (e.g., Hootsuite, Seesmic Desktop, Tweetdeck, Splitweet)

‣ comedic (e.g., Billie Tweets, Lolquiz)


Diverse perspectives

• Users

‣ interests, preferences, what’s trending, the “technoscenti”

• Developers

‣ entrepreneurial, interests, preferences, crowdsourcing, entrepreneurial


Diversitweet


Diversity as part of the technology value proposition

• For Twitter, diversity is a benefit and part of its value proposition

‣ Encourages “cross-boundary communication”

‣ Invites an increase in learning

‣ Supports innovation

‣ Helps disseminate a variety of information

#healthcare, #iranelection, #MichaelJackson, #Sotomayor, #skipgates


Open Source Software


Open Source software

• The Cathedral and the Bazaar (CatB)

‣ essay by Eric S. Raymond (1997)

‣ two methods of free software development

• Cathedral model

‣ similar to the feeling a cathedral would invoke

‣ hierarchical, rigid, less-flexible

‣ partially exclusive

‣ developers somewhat isolated; coming together at specified times


Cathedral and Bazaar (ct’d)

• Bazaar model (widely accepted)

‣ Software development in the “public square”

‣ Everyone is involved

‣ Users are co-developers (give-and-take)

‣ Modularity in development/parallel development

‣ Dynamic decision making (decision-making process changes over time)


Open Source Definition (selected elements)

• Deals with the intellectual property of the software (license)

• Economic diversity

‣ free redistribution

• Non-discrimination clauses

‣ against persons or groups, or fields of endeavor

• Non-restrictive clauses

‣ license cannot be specific to a product, not restrict other software, must be technology-neutral

Source: Open Source Institute


Why open-source is so widespread

• Bazaar model draws on diversity

‣ draws on developers and users

‣ broad array of inputs (e.g., interests, preferences, values, goals)

‣ views discrimination as an impediment to progress (what if we looked at diversity as a way to overcome hindrances to productivity and innovation, instead of as merely a “good thing”)

‣ people work on what interests them simultaneously (draws on different passions)

‣ dialogue/give-and-take with public helps with the spread and viability of open-source


Social Networks


Social Networks

• Moving toward fragmentation

• Proliferation of niche social networks

‣ verticals - age (Gather.com), ethnic (MiGente.com), religious (MyChurch,org), dating (Shmooze.com)

‣ software to support niche networks: Ning, Social Engine, Buddypress, Elgg, etc.

‣ Data/relationship portability across networks

• Users have diversity of interests, identities, and comfort levels with technology—this is part of the catalyst for innovation in social networking


Social identities

• Social media reinforces previous identifications

‣ CitySaheli.com - social network for South Asian women

‣ BlackPlanet.com - social network for Black Americans

‣ Womenco.com - social network for women seeking jobs

• But also encourages new identifications

‣ Interest-based, instead of race, gender, etc.

careers, hobbies, geography

• Artmetal.com - social network for people interested in metal arts

• Meetup.com


How our lives are changing

• Broadening of communities/spheres of influence

• “No expert required”/more entrepreneurial

• Shift in self-identification

• “Flatter” world (in Friedmanian terms)

• Dynamic lifestyle/living in dialogue (give-and-take) with the larger society

Q&A/Wrap-Up

Question: since diversity undergirds some of the major philosophies upon which social media technologies are built, why do we continue to lack diversity at major technical conferences and events?

Thank You.

http://jessicafayecarter.com@jescarter